Hill, Alfred, born 21-01-1924 in Southampton, Hampshire
His father, Alfred Hill (1893–1972), later manager of a surgical appliance shop, and grandfather, Henry Hill (born 1871), had both been circus clowns. His mother was Helen (born Cave; 1894–1976). “Benny” attended Taunton’s School. During World War II, he was evacuated to Bournemouth. After leaving school, Hill worked at Woolworth’s as a milkman, a bridge operator, a driver and a drummer before he finally got a foot in the door of the entertainment industry by becoming assistant stage manager with a touring review. He was called up in 1942 and trained as a mechanic, but transferred to the Combined Services Entertainment division
before the end of the war. It was there that he met his future agent, Richard Stone,
then a colonel. Benny Hill was drafted into the British Army Royal, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers as a mechanic and arrived in Normandy 01-09-1944.










Death and burial ground of Hill, Alfred Hawthorne “Benny”.



After suffering a mild heart attack on 24-02-1992, doctors told him he needed to lose weight and recommended a heart bypass. He declined, and a week later was found to have kidney failure. Hill died at the age of 68 on 20-04-1992. On 22 April, after several days of unanswered telephone calls, his producer, Dennis Kirkland,
climbed a ladder to the balcony of Hill’s 3rd floor apartment and upon seeing the body through a window had the neighbours call the police. The police broke into the apartment and found Hill, dead, sitting in his armchair in front of the television. Hill’s cause of death was recorded as coronary thrombosis.

“Benny” Hill is buried at Hollybrook Cemetery near his birthplace in Southampton.




Message(s), tips or interesting graves for the webmaster: robhopmans@outlook.com
Leave a Reply